How Applications Are Judged

The application, with supporting documentation, is the primary basis upon
which decisions are made. The national Hornaday Awards Committee may grant as
many awards as possible, provided the demanding expectations are met. Dr.
Hornaday stated, "Unusual prizes are to be won only by unusual services."

On the application sheets provided in this booklet (or on photocopies),
describe in detail how you came up with the idea, why you undertook the
project (school project, community service, church project, etc.), how you
planned it, how it was designed, how long it took, where it was done, the
resulting environmental improvement, and how the project involved and
influenced others. Describe how you gave leadership to the project. List
help you received from organizations and professionals. Supporting materials
(photographs, news articles, letters of appreciation, sketches) may be
attached to the application in one separate, well-organized binder.
Consideration is given to a neat, concise, organized presentation. Give
special care to the appearance of the application and the correctness of
all information provided.

All effort is made to protect and return original supplemental materials.
The original application, however, is not returned. Applicants and
councils should keep copies.

The Hornaday Awards Committee meets three or four times a year. Therefore,
applicants must recognize the lead time involved.

Expectations

Applicants for the bronze and silver medals are expected to

Describe the origination of the idea.

State the project's purpose and identify the conservation issue it addresses.

Conduct research, investigation, and study.

Develop project plans.

Implement and manage the projects.

Demonstrate leadership and involve others.

Describe how the project influenced the attitudes of others.

Record the time and resources devoted to each project.

Explain the relationships among projects, if projects are
interrelated. Each project, however, must be from a different
category of conservation, as described earlier.

The research performed in connection with the conservation
projects undertaken. The relevant research must be cited at
the appropriate location in the conservation project documentation.
A bibliography must be provided that lists sources cited. The
bibliography must be formatted according to established standards.

The applicant's entire Hornaday effort. This evaluation,
included in the application in a separate section, should contain
information on alternatives considered for each project and an
explanation of why each specific conservation project was selected,
procedures used, processes used, staffing levels used, funding
requirements, and so on.

The lessons learned. Included in the report in a separate
section, this details what the applicant, in hindsight, would do
differently on each project. The section should include recommended
changes in project selection; procedures, processes, and staffing
levels used; funding requirements; and evaluations of project
effectiveness over time.

Monitoring

Applicants for the Hornaday badge, bronze medal, and silver medal must
work under the guidance of a conservation or environmental professional or
qualified layperson in conservation.

Each project should be designed in part to publicize the need to conserve
natural resources and to improve environmental conditions.

The council is encouraged to provide guidance and to identify qualified
advisers. The role of the conservation adviser is to guide the young person
into selecting significant conservation projects and to coach the youth into
preparing, researching, consulting others, designing, planning, and giving
leadership to others in carrying out the projects. The adviser must approve
the application, indicating that the applicant's activities have been monitored
and ensuring that the projects meet local needs. The applicant's unit leader
must also approve.

The Hornaday Awards Committee expects applications to include detailed project
descriptions that document the applicant's work.

Screening

Applications are screened by a council conservation committee composed of knowledgeable
people aware of the needs, problems, and opportunities for conservation and
environmental improvement in the local council area. Committee members will
base their judgments on the work accomplished relative to the applicant's age
and compared to the accomplishments of others in the community. The decision
is based on several principal factors:

How much the applicant has actually contributed to the improvement
or better management of natural resources and the environment, and
the extent to which the applicant has learned from that experience

The leadership the applicant has demonstrated in the planning and
execution of the project(s)

The extent to which the applicant has encouraged other people to plan,
understand, appreciate, and practice sound conservation and environmental
protection methods

National Council Criteria in Judging

Review the major criteria used by the National
Council in judging applications/nominations for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold
Medals and the Gold Certificate.